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SAR NEWS

442 Squadron receives Heroes and Rescue Award
The Justice Institute of British Columbia recently recognized the members of 442 Squadron for "heroic action in a time of crisis."

442 Squadron, along with the Vancouver Urban SAR Team and the B.C. SAR Association, received the Heroes and Rescue Award in late October.

Although the award is usually presented to provincial organizations, Jack McGee, President of the Institute, said it was appropriate "to recognize 442 Squadron for the substantial contribution to the safety and security of the people of British Columbia."

So far this year, the squadron has been tasked for 196 missions and five major searches.

"People often take search and rescue for granted and we wanted to acknowledge the hard work of the squadron crews and the difference they have made," explained Mr. McGee. "This year's award recipients represent a powerful search and rescue package, teams that work closely together on behalf of all British Columbians."

Star of Courage awarded to two Gander SAR Techs
Two SAR Techs from 103 Squadron in Gander will receive the Star of Courage for a daring rescue in September 2004 where Master Corporal Norman Penny (then a Corporal) and Sergeant Derek Rogers saved four fishermen from drowning after their vessel capsized near Cape Bonavista, Newfoundland and Labrador.

During a storm in the aftermath of Hurricane Ivan, the rescuers faced 10-metre waves, heavy rain and gale-force winds while they descended to the life raft to retrieve the victims. In addition to bad weather, the SAR Techs faced other problems: a hoist failure, injuries from being tossed around by high winds and powerful waves, and near drownings from being forced under water by panicked victims.

Through their tireless efforts, Sgt. Rogers and MCpl. Penny saved four of the six fishermen.

Canadian Forces School of Search and Rescue receives Back and Bevington Award
Dedicated to the training of every air force SAR Tech, the Canadian Forces School of Search and Rescue (CFSSAR), was chosen as this year's recipient of the Back and Bevington Award.

The trophy is awarded annually to honour a significant contribution to air safety in British Columbia and was bestowed upon CFSSAR by the British Columbia Aviation Council at the Silver Wing Awards Banquet in Whistler, B.C.

The CFSSAR was singled out for its outstanding achievement in its training mission. The B.C. Aviation Council said "the Canadian Forces School of Search and Rescue provides outstanding contribution and leadership in developing safety and rescue techniques for all Canadian Forces SAR Techs, which provides paramedics, divers and land and sea survival specialists as an elite element of the Canadian Air Force."

Service Canada to licence Pleasure Craft Operators on behalf of Transport Canada
An agreement has been signed recently to allow Service Canada to licence pleasure craft operators across Canada on behalf of Transport Canada.

In a news release, Transport Canada Minister Jean-C. Lapierre said, "Today we are joining forces with Service Canada to increase the number of locations where Canadians can apply for pleasure craft licences and to provide search and rescue and law enforcement agencies with 24 hours a day, seven days a week access to licence information during emergencies."

There are now 320 centres where licences can be issued at no cost.

A pleasure craft licence, which must be placed on the side of the vessel, helps law enforcement and search and rescue organizations identify the owner of the craft.

B.C.'s SAR Association sponsors Avalanche Rescue Resource Directory
The British Columbia Search and Rescue Association will again sponsor the Canadian Avalanche Association's Rescue Resource Directory. The directory lists agencies and personnel related to search and rescue, avalanche rescue, training and education.

It is distributed to across B.C. and parts of Alberta, including to SAR teams, the RCMP, the Parks Canada warden service, various provincial and federal government ministries and professional members of the Canadian Avalanche Association.

New CCG station is fully equipped
A new building for the Canadian Coast Guard SAR crews in Sambro, Nova Scotia, has living quarters and office space. The facility provides SAR teams with communications and technical support equipment needed to effectively carry out their duties.

Opened in September by the Honourable Geoff Regan, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, the Sambro Search and Rescue Station now provides a home and base of operations for two four-member full-time crews who stand ready for SAR operations 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Volunteer survey gives evidence of trends
Results of the search and rescue volunteer study conducted by the National Search and Rescue Secretariat last spring, show common concerns across SAR teams for loss of membership, recruiting difficulties and insufficient funding for equipment and training.

Aimed at the team leader, the survey looked at recruitment, training and retention. The National Search and Rescue Secretariat undertook this survey to help support the volunteer community, an essential component of the National SAR Program.

However, with only 36 responses from eight provinces, the results are not statistically valid to be able to draw meaningful conclusions. Nonetheless, the respondents provided a detailed and heartfelt account of the problems facing their groups which will help guide further work in examining this important sector.

No tax break for volunteers
A recent report by the House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance has recommended no further consideration be given to amending Bill C-237, An Act to Amend the Income Tax Act (deduction for volunteer emergency services).

The Bill was delayed because of various unresolved questions, including the definition of the term "volunteer emergency service" and uncertainty over which groups would be included: auxiliary police officers, the RCMP Auxiliary, SAR volunteers, paramedic and Coast Guard services, among others.

To read more about the decision, visit the Parliament website at www.parl.gc.ca/committee/CommitteePublication.aspx?SourceID=135652

Changes in the U.S. Hug-a-Tree Program
Developed by Ab Taylor in the 1980s, the Hug-a-Tree program is undergoing some changes in the United States. The program and its materials need to be updated and the National Association for SAR (NASAR) has taken on this responsibility.

To facilitate the modernization of the program, NASAR has established a committee that will coordinate, monitor and support current presentations while working to improve the program, materials and support system.

To learn more about the transformation, contact the committee at hugatree@nasar.org.

Nunavut develops a community-based approach to SAR
Search and rescue volunteers in Nunavut gathered at a three-day conference to discuss way to strengthen SAR in their communities.

A snowmobile safety poster unveiled by the Minister at the conference will be distributed to communities for posting at gas outlets, hamlet offices, RCMP detachments and on community announcement boards. The community radio will broadcast similar messages to remind people about their safety on the land and water.

Held in early December in Iqaluit, the conference lectures and training focused on improving the knowledge and planning capabilities of community SAR leaders. The RCMP, Canadian Forces, Canadian Coast Guard and representatives from 24 of the 25 communities were present (the 25th representative withdrew) recommended strategies to decrease the number of SAR incidents across Nunavut. Significant progress was made in two key areas:

• Training requirements for effective SAR response in the North
• Key messages and targets in the development of a prevention strategy

Emergency Management Services of Nunavut will compile information gathered from the conference and develop a strategy to address these issues.

In addition to information, each community was equipped with satellite phones, GPS, binoculars and first aid kits to enhance SAR capabilities in their communities.

Call for ideas
Hosted by the Canadian Coast Guard College, the sixth annual International Association for Safety and Survival Training Meeting and International Conference will focus on 'self rescue.'

The event will be on May 22, 2006, at the College in Sydney, Nova Scotia. To submit an idea or for more information, contact Myles Ross (rossmx@dfo-mpo.gc.ca) at 902-565-3660.

Online avalanche training program now available
A new Avalanche First Responder training program is now available online through the Canadian Avalanche Association (CAA).

SAR personnel can learn how to search for avalanche victims effectively, and how to reduce the risks to their team mates and themselves while conducting winter SAR missions.

Funded by the SAR New Initiatives Fund (RCMP 2/04) and sponsored by the RCMP, the training program is available in English and will be available in French in mid-January, 2006. It has been downloaded in over 30 countries since October 2005.

"We're thrilled with the reception the website has received," said project manager and CAA Operations Manager, Ian Tomm. "There's obviously a real hunger for this information. We've made it easy to access, educational and interactive, and that seems to have really struck a chord with the backcountry users of all levels."

The program teaches people how to reduce the likelihood of being caught in an avalanche and what to do if a companion is buried in one.

To access the training program, go to http://access.jibc.bc.ca/avalancheFirstResponse/index.htm

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